office
A1Neutral to formal, depending on context. Common in all registers.
Definition
Meaning
A room, set of rooms, or building where people work, especially at desks, and where business or professional activities are conducted.
A position of authority, duty, or trust, especially in a government, organization, or institution; also, a service or function, such as a religious ceremony.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word spans concrete (place) and abstract (role/function) meanings. The concrete meaning is primary and most frequent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. 'Office block' (UK) vs. 'office building' (US) is a common lexical difference. In UK English, 'surgery' can refer to a doctor's or dentist's office, a usage rare in US English.
Connotations
Largely identical. Both associate it with administrative work, bureaucracy, and professional environments.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
work in an officego to the officebe at the officerun an officeset up an officehold office (as PM)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in the office of”
- “through the good offices of”
- “take office”
- “leave office”
- “run for office”
- “public office”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the physical location of a company or its administrative functions. 'Our London office handles European sales.'
Academic
Used for administrative roles within a university. 'The Office of the Registrar.' Can also refer to the function of a text or concept.
Everyday
Commonly refers to one's place of work. 'I left my keys at the office.'
Technical
In computing, refers to a suite of productivity software (e.g., Microsoft Office). In law/government, refers to a position of duty.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The firm is officed in a converted warehouse.
American English
- The startup officed out of a shared co-working space for its first year.
adjective
British English
- We need to order more office stationery.
- Office politics can be draining.
American English
- The office thermostat is always a point of contention.
- She brought in office snacks for everyone.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My mum works in an office.
- The post office is next to the bank.
- I go to the office by bus.
- She was promoted to office manager last month.
- Our head office is located in Frankfurt.
- Please drop the parcel off at the office tomorrow.
- He announced his candidacy for public office yesterday.
- The good offices of the UN were crucial in negotiating the ceasefire.
- We're looking for new office premises in the city centre.
- The vice-president assumed the office of president following the sudden resignation.
- Through the good offices of a mutual friend, we managed to settle the dispute amicably.
- The concept of 'office' in medieval theology differs significantly from its modern secular usage.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'OFF-ICE' – you go OFF your home ICE (comfort) to work in an OFFICE.
Conceptual Metaphor
OFFICE IS A CONTAINER (for work, people, bureaucracy). AUTHORITY IS A POSITION (to hold office).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'офис' as only a modern, sleek workspace. 'Office' in English includes any administrative workplace, even old-fashioned ones.
- Do not confuse 'office' (должность) with 'position' or 'post'. 'He holds the office of treasurer' is correct but formal.
- The phrase 'at the office' is more common than 'in the office' for general location.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'office' as a verb (incorrect: 'I will office from home today.' Correct: 'I will work from home.').
- Overusing 'the' ('I go to office' – incorrect. 'I go to the office' – correct).
- Confusing 'office' (room/building) with 'desk' (the furniture).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common meaning of 'office'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Office' refers to any space used for administrative or professional work, from a lawyer's chambers to a small room with a desk.
An 'office' is typically for professional/business work, often outside the home. A 'study' is usually a room in a home for reading, writing, or private work.
Rarely and formally. As a verb, it means 'to have an office' or 'to provide with an office' (e.g., 'The company is officed in Paris'). It is not common in everyday speech.
It's a formal idiom meaning the help, influence, or mediation provided by someone, often in a position of authority, to assist in a situation.
Collections
Part of a collection
Places in the City
A1 · 50 words · Common buildings and places found in towns and cities.
Work and Jobs
A2 · 49 words · Jobs, professions and the world of work.